UPDATE ON THE ONTARIO TRAILS STRATEGY · 1 update on the ontario trails strategy the ministry of...
Transcript of UPDATE ON THE ONTARIO TRAILS STRATEGY · 1 update on the ontario trails strategy the ministry of...
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UPDATE ON THE
ONTARIO TRAILS STRATEGY
THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM, CULTURE AND SPORT
ASSISTANT DEPUTY MINISTER, PHIL MALCOLMSON
June 10, 2013
Overview of the Presentation
The Government of Ontario Priorities
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport Priorities
2012/13 Ontario Trails Strategy Activity
Update on MTCS Grants
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Ontario Government
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Priorities from the Speech from the Throne
Emphasizes:
• New jobs
• Strong communities
• Healthy, engaged citizens
Trails address Government priorities:
• Trails generate $2 billion in economic activity - the Trans Canada
Trail, when complete, will generate $2.4 billion in Ontario alone,
according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (2004)
• Trails volunteerism and infrastructure build strong communities
• Trails support sport, recreation and physical activity (including active
transportation) that contribute to healthy communities
• The cultural and heritage values associated with trails enrich our
social fabric
Ontario Government
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Challenges
Government
committed to deficit
reduction by 2017/18
Reduced program
spending in the coming
years
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The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport: Priorities
Priorities
Enhancing Ontario’s strong competitive tourism industry
Developing a prosperous creative economy
Protecting Ontario’s heritage and creating vibrant liveable
communities
Promoting recreation and supporting excellence in amateur
sport
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport: Priorities
The Role of Sport, Recreation and Community Programs Division
Policies and programs that support participation and excellence in
amateur sport, recreation and physical activity
Support for high performance sport, amateur athletes and partners
Hosting international sporting events
Enabling the delivery of after school programs
Providing coordination for provincial interests in trails
Delivering physical activity programming for target populations
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The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport: Priorities
2015 Pan/Parapan American Games
Pan American Games July 10 – 26; Pan/Parapan Games August 7 – 14, 2015
A unique opportunity to strengthen sport/recreation and showcase
Ontario:
• $700M in infrastructure spending
• 10,000 athletes/officials
• 250,000 visitors
• 600 hours of television coverage
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2012/13 Ontario Trails Strategy Activity
Engagement with the Ontario Trails Council (OTC)
• ADM meetings with the OTC
• OTC co-chairs the Ontario Trails Co-ordinating
Committee
• The OTC has made advances in professionalizing the
business of trails - 14 training modules
• OTC fosters trails tourism economic activity with
Regional Tourism Organizations (RTOs)
• OTC member survey results confirmed that long-
standing issues persist (e.g. the need for funding, tort
reform, training on trail development/maintenance, etc.)
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2012/13 Ontario Trails Strategy Activity
Draft Snowmobile Trails along the Provincial Highway Right-of-Way Policy
• MTCS contributed to the Ministry of Transportation’s (MTO) draft policy and
involved trail stakeholders in the consultative process (OTC, Ontario
Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, Ontario Tourism Industry Association and
the Association of Municipalities of Ontario)
Draft Ontario Cycling Strategy
• MTCS contributed to the MTO draft Strategy and involved trail stakeholders
Trail Mapping
• MTCS continues to work with the Ministry of Natural Resources to map trails
to 2015
• As of April 2013 the Ontario Trails Network included 2409 trailheads
representing over 36,000 km and 7,139 trail segments across the Province
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2012/13 Ontario Trails Strategy Activity
Building Stronger Relationships with the Tourism
Industry
• Ontario Tourism Summit – MTCS joint presentation
with the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs
(OFSC)
Trail Sustainability
• MTCS is funding the Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle
Distributors’ Council to study funding models to assist
the not-for-profit motorized trails community
• Final report is expected in September 2013
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2012/13 Ontario Trails Strategy Activity
Trail Standard under the Accessibility for Ontarians
with Disabilities Act (AODA)
• MTCS contributed to the development of the standard
and brought trail stakeholders to the table
• Dr. Patti Longmuir, of the Ontario Trails Coordinating
Committee, sat on the Stakeholder Advisory Group
Ontario Bike Summit
• Provided funding support and Minister Chan addressed
the conference, announcing the 600 km Greenbelt
Cycling project
Other Trail-Related Investments
• Trail project funding through MTCS for 2012/13 was
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Update on MTCS Grants
Tourism Development Fund (TDF)
Goal – support the creation or revitalization of tourism attractions, sites
and experiences; product development for emerging sectors; enhancing
business and practices; and assisting communities
Application window - the program receives applications on an on-going
basis up to the grant cap
Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund (OSRCF)
Goal – to get and keep Ontarians active in sport, recreation and physical
activity (increased opportunities for participation, building physical
literacy and enhancing the capacity of the sport and recreation sector)
The application window for 2013/14 grants closed in March 2013
Anticipate launching the 2014/15 program in the late fall/early winter
2013/14
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Update on MTCS Grants
Ontario Trillium Foundation Fund
Goal – to build healthy and vibrant communities
throughout Ontario by strengthening the capacity
of the volunteer sector through investments in
community-based initiatives
Application window – 2013/14 deadlines are
July 1, November 1 and March 1
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Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport
MTCS STAFF CONTACTS
Anna Ilnyckyj
Director, Policy Branch
(416) 326-0825
Craig Stewart
Manager, Strategic Development Unit
(416) 326 – 4370
Carol Oitment
Policy Advisor, Strategic Development Unit
(416) 314 – 7205
Ana Tinta
Sr. Policy Advisor, Strategic Development Unit
(416) 212-4247
Nancy Kelly
Sr. Policy Advisor, Strategic Development Unit
(416) 326-4447
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